diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-plz.yml b/.github/workflows/release-plz.yml
index 0440308..e984fc2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-plz.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-plz.yml
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ jobs:
   # every push to main.
   release-pr:
     name: release-plz PR
+    # Gate on the publish job: a release-pr that runs while a publish is
+    # still in flight reads a pre-publish registry and opens phantom
+    # patch releases (seen after rapid back-to-back release merges).
+    needs: release
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     concurrency:
       group: release-plz-pr